Bharat Forge and Flying Whales have signed an MoU to develop, manufacture, and deploy advanced heavy-lift airships in India for defence and strategic requirements. This partnership aims to create an indigenous airship ecosystem and will focus on the LCA60T model, capable of transporting 60 tonnes with vertical take-off and landing. The airships are expected to revolutionize military logistics, strategic mobility in challenging terrains, and support various defence and humanitarian missions, aligning with India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision.

Bharat Forge and Flying Whales have signed an MoU to develop, manufacture, and deploy advanced heavy-lift airships in India for defence and strategic requirements. This partnership aims to create an indigenous airship ecosystem and will focus on the LCA60T model, capable of transporting 60 tonnes with vertical take-off and landing. The airships are expected to revolutionize military logistics, strategic mobility in challenging terrains, and support various defence and humanitarian missions, aligning with India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision.

Bharat Forge and Flying Whales have signed an MoU to develop, manufacture, and deploy advanced heavy-lift airships in India for defence and strategic requirements. This partnership aims to create an indigenous airship ecosystem and will focus on the LCA60T model, capable of transporting 60 tonnes with vertical take-off and landing. The airships are expected to revolutionize military logistics, strategic mobility in challenging terrains, and support various defence and humanitarian missions, aligning with India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision.

India's defence and aerospace ecosystem is expected to soon gain a new indigenous capability, as Bharat Forge and French-Canadian aerospace company Flying Whales joined hands to develop, manufacture and field advanced heavy-lift airships in India for defence and strategic requirements.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in the UK in this regard.

One of the major objectives of the partnership is to establish an indigenous airship ecosystem in India. The companies plan to manufacture, integrate and produce Flying Whales-Bharat Forge airships for defence applications in the country.

At the centre of the partnership is the LCA60T, a next-generation heavy-lift airship capable of transporting up to 60 tonnes of cargo. It offers vertical take-off and landing capability, requires minimal ground infrastructure and uses hybrid-electric propulsion, according to a press statement from Bharat Forge.

Its ability to operate point-to-point in difficult and remote areas could open new possibilities for the armed forces, particularly in military logistics and strategic mobility.

The companies will explore using the airships to support forward operating bases and transport oversized equipment and critical military supplies. Other potential applications include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), communication relay systems, rapid deployment in remote border regions and difficult terrain, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Apart from the operational applications, the partnership is aimed at building the technology and manufacturing ecosystem needed to produce such airships within India.

Bharat Forge Vice Chairman and Joint Managing Director Amit Kalyani said the partnership would place India among a select group of countries capable of designing, building and fielding heavy-lift airships.

“Aligned to the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we are creating a sovereign capability, a new industrial ecosystem and an entirely new dimension of strategic mobility for the nation,” Kalyani said.

Flying Whales Services CEO Tanguy Lestienne said the companies intend to “build in India, for India and for the world.”

TAGS